Form errors on university websites may seem small, but they make a big impact — especially for people who use screen readers or assistive technologies. A missing label on a form field can turn an easy task into a frustrating one. That’s where Siteimprove comes in.

TLDR: Universities across the country started using Siteimprove to find and fix form labeling mistakes on their websites. The tool helped identify inaccessible forms that made it hard for users with disabilities. IT teams, web developers, and accessibility advocates worked together to make changes. The result? Smoother, more inclusive web experiences for all.

Why Form Labeling Matters

Forms are everywhere on university sites — from signing up for classes to registering for events or contacting departments. But when those forms are not properly labeled, users with visual impairments or cognitive challenges may struggle to complete them.

Imagine trying to fill out a form blindfolded. That’s sort of what it feels like to use a form that misses important labels when you’re depending on a screen reader.

Labels connect input boxes to their meanings. Is the field asking for a name? An email address? Without a label, it’s just an empty box with no context.

Enter Siteimprove

Siteimprove is like a robot scout for websites. It checks every page on a site, looking for possible issues. It flags things like broken links, inaccessible images, and yes — improperly labeled form fields.

• Automated scans: It scans thousands of pages in minutes.
• Visual reports: It shows what’s broken and where.
• Accessibility dashboards: It highlights issues that affect users with disabilities.

This made it the perfect tool for IT and accessibility teams at universities trying to find form labeling mistakes hidden across hundreds of sites and subdomains.

How Universities Got Started

Most colleges didn’t start with perfect websites. Some had over a decade of content built with different tools and styles. So, universities began with small pilot programs.

Here’s how a typical rollout happened:

1. Choose a department to start with — usually admissions or financial aid.
2. Run a full Siteimprove scan of their web pages.
3. Use the results to find labeling errors on forms.
4. Make fixes — either by updating HTML directly or using a content management system (CMS).
5. Re-scan and confirm the issue was resolved.

Once that worked smoothly, the process was duplicated across the rest of campus.

What Siteimprove Found

You might be surprised by how many mislabeled forms it found. Here are the top three labeling issues spotted on various campuses:

• Missing ‘label’ tags: These are needed by screen readers to announce what a field is for.
• Duplicate ID attributes: Using the same ID for multiple form fields causes confusion.
• Placeholder-only input: Relying on placeholder text instead of real labels — which vanish as soon as you type.

These seem like little slip-ups, but they keep users from accessing vital campus services.

The Fix-It Teams

A successful accessibility push needed teamwork. Here’s who chipped in:

• Developers: Handled the coding changes and CMS templates.
• Content Creators: Rewrote unclear instructions and checked forms for consistency.
• Accessibility Officers: Ran audits and trained staff.
• Students: Provided feedback through usability testing.

This team approach helped create a lasting culture of accessibility, beyond just the form fields.

Big Wins and Small Victories

At one midwestern university, the admissions team noticed a 15% drop in support calls after correcting mislabeled forms. Another school saw an uptick in online event registrations, since forms were easier to use for everyone — not just those with disabilities.

Some teams also used Siteimprove’s CMS integration tools. These pop up friendly suggestions inside common content platforms like WordPress or Drupal — making real-time fixes easy and fast.

Even faculty creating single-page online applications learned to use proper markup, just from being exposed to the audit results.

Good Habits Going Forward

Of course, fixing old errors is one thing. Preventing new ones? That’s the next level.

Here’s how campuses made accessibility part of their workflow:

• Pre-launch checklists: Now every new site and form must pass a Siteimprove accessibility check.
• Staff training: Content managers went through accessibility boot camps.
• Monthly reports: Departments now get update emails showing accessibility progress or new problems.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being aware — so errors are spotted and fixed faster.

Lessons Learned

Every university learned a few important things along the way:

• Form errors are sneaky — even the most polished websites had hidden issues.
• Accessibility tools save time — automated reports let you focus efforts where they matter most.
• Everyone owns access — building a culture around inclusion makes digital spaces kinder and more efficient.

Even after forms were fixed, many universities continued scanning for image alt text, keyboard navigation bugs, and content readability.

The Power of Empathy and Tech

Siteimprove didn’t just give universities a tool — it gave them a new way to see their websites, through the eyes (or ears) of people who experience them differently.

In the end, it was about more than clean code or strong labels. It was about people — students, parents, teachers, and future applicants — being able to get what they need without frustration or barriers.

That’s tech at its best — helping people connect.

Want to Try It?

If your university hasn’t started yet, now’s a great time. Accessibility is becoming a major part of digital strategy, not just a compliance checkbox. And Siteimprove is a friendly way to get there.

Start with a single department. Run a scan. Review the results. Fix some forms. Then keep going.

One small improvement… improves the experience for everyone.